Retractable handle positioning mechanism for wheeled suitcases

Abstract

A retractable handle positioning mechanism including a base frame fixed to the shell of a wheeled suitcase and having two axle housings disposed in a parallel relation a retractable handle mounted in the axle housings and moved between an extended position and a retracted position, spring-supported retainer rods mounted in the retractable handle for locking it in the extended position or the retracted position, a trapezoidal press button mounted in a top button slot on the base frame, and two spring-supported bolts mounted inside the base frame and controlled by the trapezoidal press button to release the spring-supported retainer rods for permitting the retractable handle to be moved between the extended position and the retracted position.

I claim: 
     
       1. A retractable handle positioning mechanism for a suitcase having a shell comprising: a base frame fastened to the shell of the suitcase to hold a retractable handle, said base frame having two laterally spaced apart axle holes, a chamber in the middle between said two axle holes, a front opening communicating with said chamber, a stub rod on said base frame located inside said chamber, a top button slot communicating with said chamber having a width W, a lock hole communicating with each of said axle holes and two mounting flanges extending from opposite sides of said base frame laterally outwardly of said two axle holes;   a first spring mounted on said stub rod inside said chamber;   a trapezoidal press button having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration located in said chamber and supported on said first spring, a portion of said press button disposed in said top button slot, the press button having at least two side wings extending from opposite sides of the press button, the distance between distal ends of the side wings being greater than the width W of the top button slot to prevent the press button from passing completely through the top button slot;   two locating blocks bilaterally mounted inside said chamber of said base frame, each having a bolt hole communicating between said chamber and the lock hole of one axle housing;   two headed bolts, each headed bolt having a bolt body sliding in the bolt hole of one locating block, and a beveled head bearing against one side of said trapezoidal press button;   a second spring respectively mounted around the bolt body of each headed bolt and extending between the beveled head of each headed bolt and one of said locating blocks so as to bias the beveled head against the press button; and   a retractable handle fastened to said base frame, and operated by means of the control of said trapezoidal press button between an extended position and a retracted position,   whereby when said trapezoidal press button is pressed, the headed bolts are forced laterally outwards by said trapezoidal press button in opposite directions to push spring-supported retainer rods away from lock holes of said base frame, thereby permitting inside tubes of said retractable handle to be moved between said extended position and said retracted position.   
     
     
       2. A retractable handle positioning mechanism for a suitcase having a shell comprising: a base frame fastened to the shell of a suitcase to hold a retractable handle, said base frame having two laterally spaced apart axle holes each axle hole forming a threaded hole, a chamber in the middle between said two of the holes, a front opening communicating with said chamber, a stub rod on said base frame located inside said chamber, a top button slot communicating with said chamber having a width W, a lock hole communicating with each of said axle holes wherein the base frame is fastened to an inside of the shell of said suitcase by a tubular screw member threaded into each of said axle holes, each said tubular screw member having a tapered top orifice;   a first spring mounted on said stub rod inside said chamber;   a trapezoidal press button having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration located in said chamber and supported on said first spring, a portion of said press button disposed in said button slot, the press button having at least two side wings extending from opposite sides of the press button, the distance between distal ends of the side wings being greater than the width W of the top button slot to prevent the press button from passing completely through the top button slot;   two locating blocks bilaterally mounted inside said chamber of said base frame, each having a bolt hole communicating between said chamber and the lock hole of one axle housing;   two headed bolts, each headed bolt having a bolt body sliding in the bolt hole of one locating block, and a beveled head bearing against one side of said trapezoidal press button;   a second spring respectively mounted around the bolt body of each headed bolt and extending between the beveled head of each headed bolt and one of said locating blocks so as to bias the beveled head against the press button; and   a retractable handle fastened to said base frame, and operated by means of the control of said trapezoidal press button between an extended position and a retracted position;   whereby when said trapezoidal press button is pressed, the headed bolts are forced laterally outwards by said trapezoidal press button in opposite directions to push spring-supported retainer rods away from lock holes of said base frame, thereby permitting inside tubes of said retractable handle to be moved between said extended position and said retracted position.